Scaring Buns

Mia hid behind a tree with her gloved hands holding the edges as she peeked out, shaking in her cloak as she stared out at the gardens surrounding her. They were more like food ones, which confused her entirely. When had Division Four taken to farming... when had they had fields or anything!?

She was utterly lost now, having come to drop off some sweets for her father and his...and the Captain of the Division and instead of taking a left at one intersection, the cloaked and hooded woman had apparently taken a right and then gotten more lost from there.

Figuring that at least being outside would help her, she had quickly gotten out of a window nearby only to find herself more lost than ever. What and how...?

What was she supposed to do now... Where was anyone...?

“Hmmhmmhmm, working in the garden~ No spooky things hiding in my garden~” Obie hummed to himself as he worked on the newest addition to the 4th Division garden that Captain Lakshmi Ma’am had given him. She had even taken the noise makers out! It was a good day indeed. Chikyu was in his released form at the moment, as he and Obie were digging away to make room for more veggies and herbs. As Obie planted his Zanpakuto into the ground for one more pile of dirt to be removed, he heard the timid voice of Chikyu try to get his attention.

U-Uh Obie? We’re not alone anymore. There’s… something or someone out there now! Hiding. Upon hearing this, Obie seized up, gripping his zanpakuto closely as he frantically scanned the garden.

“W-W-Who’s there? If you’re here t-to hurt my vegetables, could you… not? Thank you, um also please don’t hurt me? I have money, i-if you want it…”  When did they get here?!

I don’t know! The just-as-scared spirit responded. One moment the garden was empty the way we like it, b-but then I felt the earth shift a little bit, like someone just… jumped in here. They’re probably REALLY spooky too!

You’re probably right! Oh god why do people keep sneaking up on my garden pleasejuststop…

Aaah there was someone but they were upset and worried over her appearance! How could she ask them though...they were just as nervous as she was... Mia quaked behind the tree, her form pressed right up against the bark as she pulled out a secret weapon for dealing with others...

A notebook appeared from behind a nearby tree, held by a black gloved and shaking hand. It read, I'm sorry I'm lost! Please help...

Mia was internally panicking and externally shaking in her cloak as she did that. They think...she was here to hurt things... were there people around who did that!? Wouldn't Papa and Lakshmi stop such things...?

Obie shook just as much in place as looked out for the garden intruder. They were quite sneaky indeed, showing up out of nowhere like that. What kind of terrifying, monstrous, spooky creature would just show up in a garden like they di-Oh there’s a notebook coming out of that tree. Obie fumbled with his glasses and looked at the words written down on the paper. “Lost? I um, don’t know where you were trying to go, but if it’s somewhere in the 4th I should be able to help? I mean, unless you’re a spooky spy and then I can’t actually help and I’ll probably have to get ahold of the Captain for that… You’re not a spooky spy, are you?”

Obie certainly hoped not. The thought of someone stealing his gardening secrets was even more terrifying than the fact that someone appeared in his garden without warning. Which actually happened a lot of the time now that Obie thought of it. Oh god please don’t be a garden spy that would be the most awful terrifying thing ever why does this even exiiiiiiiiiist

The notebook was pulled back behind the tree and after a few moments of furious scribbling it popped back out again. I'm trying to leave these gardens and get back to Division Ten. I was just delivering some sweets to my father, I'm not a spy at all! I have the worst black thumb, so I'll stay away from your plants too...

The man was nervous she'd hurt his vegetables so Mia she would stay away from them just in case she somehow cursed them accidentally... But how to get out then? There were all sorts of such things surrounding her... The notepad shook more as she held it out.

She hadn't even known this place existed in the division! Aaaaah...

Obie flinched slightly as the notepad was pulled back behind the tree, leaving him alone and frightened in the middle of his field. Oh god oh geez did I anger the notepad somehow? Did it run away? Why does a notepad have gloves? Ooohhhhh why does this have to happen to m- Oh it’s back He read the new message that was written and relaxed ever so slightly. But not too much. “O-Oh… so you’re not a garden spy. That’s nice. But um, you’re in the tenth division? Those are the uh, book people, right?” Librarians can’t be too spooky, right? …Right?

“But I don’t… know who your father is? I-I mean I’m still kinda new to the 4th but uh, I could find something out for you I guess?” A black thumb? Now THAT sounds spooky! But the notepad also said that it’ll stay away from my plants. Oooohhhh what do I do about this spooky notebook intruder? “Sorry that you got lost in our garden though! I might um, think about putting signs up next time? O-Or telling my subordinates to do it maybe? I have a whiteboard now; maybe I should try that…”

The notepad was pulled back and a quick reply written to his questions, Mia getting slightly annoyed with hiding behind the tree at this point though she couldn't make herself leave it.

Librarian yes. My father is the assistant to the captain, I visited already. I just want to get back to squad ten. Please put signs up or have someone else, its a maze here... Can you lead me out now? Mia shook the notepad for emphasis, a hooded head peeking around the tree to finally see her panicky helper. Huh, he wasn't much taller than her was he? And he had a hat on... looked like he worked in the gardens a lot at least from his clothes...

This was as far as she could get from behind the tree for now... Too shy at the moment.

“Captain Lakshmi’s assistant? Oh! The nice tea man, okay.” Obie still had yet to meet this mysterious tea-making assistant, but apparently quite a few people knew him already. Unless he was actually a really spooky tea-making assistant and in that case Obie was fine with not meeting him just yet or ever. Too many spooky things lately. Like the woman that peeked out from behind the tree.

[i]Oh, so there is a person attached to the notebook. At least a person isn’t as scary as a walking, talking notebook… Maybe? Just because she doesn’t look spooky doesn’t mean she’s not a terrifying spookster on the inside. “Um, I-I don’t know about this being like a maze, but maybe it’s because I’m here all the time? Sorrythatyougotlostohgod.” Obie still hadn’t taken a step closer or further from the tree during their “conversation”, mainly just cowering in place, his hands gripping tightly onto his zanpakuto. Who had also gone quiet, most likely out of fear. Obie and Chikyū thought a lot alike in those sorts of instances.

Actually, the spooky stranger had a good point. Finally moving from his spot, Obie ran over to his whiteboard and wrote “MAKE SIGNS FOR WAY OUT OF GARDEN” in big, bolded characters. Afterwards he slowly made his way back to where he stood earlier and tried talking to the tree girl. “U-Uh… I could try to get you out of here? I’m um, Obie Hogosha, T-Third Seat of the Fourth Division. Do you… have a name?”

"U-Um nice tea man?" Mia was a little shocked at the name, causing her speak to the scared man finally due to just utter confusion. Her dad was a nice tea man? Well he was nice but tea man? That impression?

Staying peeked out around the edge of the tree, Mia's violet eyes almost quivered in a bit of worry for having spoken. She gave him a short nod and stuffed away her notebook for now, it'd be easier to communicate by speaking and this person wasn't scary at all so... should be easy!

"Y-You would know it better... I-Its...okay... J-Just...please... l-lead me...out..." Mia's words trailed off as the man ran over to the whiteboard, her hand going out in a pleading motion to not leave her as shock filled her expression. Luckily it was only to write down her suggestion, a soft sigh escaping her as she then...cowered behind the tree more at the man's return. He was the third seat!?

Mia gave him a small nod, took a deep breath and stepped from behind the tree nervously. She then gave a small bow and spoke without raising her head as black hair pooled out from the hood. "I-I'm Eufemia N-Nezo, L-Lieutenant of... Tenth Division... N-Nice to meet you... Th-Third Seat Hogosha..."

"R-Right, um... How to get out of the garden..." Obie started looking around the area for, well anyway to leave the place at the moment. He had actually never been to the 10th Division before, so finding a closest way to there would be... interesting.  Oh speaking of interesting, Obie finally got the spooky garden visitor's name!

"It's a um, pleasure to meet you, L-Lieutenant Eufemia." Obie bowed back. And then he stayed there for about three seconds as all of that information dawned on him. ...OOOOOOOOOHHHHHH MY GOOOOOOOD I ACCIDENTALLY TRAPPED A LIEUTENANT OF ANOTHER DIVISION IN MY GARDEN! He rapidly began bowing again, eyes wide in fear. "Oh god oh geez I am so sorry Lieutenant Eufemia I didn't know you were- and then you've been stuck here-Ooooooooh god I'm so sorry pleasedon'tkillmeididn'tmeanit!"

HOW DO THESE THINGS KEEP HAPPENING TO ME?!? Oh god I should just move the garden into my room to it'll be safe and dark and quiet forever and no-one would get lost in it. But oh god then the sun wouldn't come in and they couldn't grow and oooooooohhhh deaaaar... "I'm sorry I'm sorry sorrysorrysorry OH GOD WE SHOULD PROBABLY JUST GO THIS WAY!" Obie said inbetween bowing, eventually running off towards... A direction. Hopefully out of the garden? Maybe.

So...the man didn't know? Mia peeked out of her hood curiously, becoming a bit braver in light of this new information. She took one hesitant step closer, blinking as she then nodded. "P-Please its...M-Mia...! Ah! N-No...its..."

Hogosha was bowing and then... bowing more and Mia had no idea what to do or how to stop him. She began panicking herself, waving her arms in circles. "I-Its fine please! I-Its okay! I-I won't hurt... its okay!"

He was panicking so much, Mia had no idea how to stop him and became agitated more as he then rushed off screaming something about sorry and this way. Her cloak flowing behind her she jogged off after the man as she called out with her gloved hand and arm outstretched. "P-Please! S-Stop...i-its okay! I-I..."

She didn't know how to soothe anyone! She barely knew how to soothe herself!

Obie caught something about a "Mia" as he took off, eyes jumping from turn to turn as fast as he could. Oh god oh geez what have I done I screwed up suuuuuuuuuper big now oh geeeeeeez! "Oh god not this corner, m-maybe around over here?" He skidded around another section of garden as he moved closer to the Fourth Division headquarters, and hopefully the exit. "Oh geez maybe it's around here? I'M SORRY I REALLY DON'T LEAVE THE GARDEN A LOT!"

He looked back pleadingly at Mia, red eyes open in worry. "I-I'm really sorry Lieutenant... I um, didn't mean for you to get lost in our garden, honestly. I-I mean I asked Captain Lakshmi Ma'am to maybe make it a little bigger and I got all the fields and now there's just so many veggies and herbs a-and I'm bad at being in charge and oohhhh..." Obie reached up and pulled his sunhat further down on his head with his own gloved hands.

Can I maybe meet one person where I don't mess up the first impression please? And also have them not sneak up on me when we do it that'd be nice... I'm definitely gonna have to hide for a long time in my room now, that'll make everything better. Meanwhile, Obie would slowly begin squatting down, making himself smaller and smaller.

Mia trailed after the scared man as he ran off, following at a safe distance to not startle him as well as keep herself from getting startled if he overreacted again. It seemed he didn't know how to get out...and she didn't want to take to the roofs to escape! Maybe...maybe she should call her father?

As he called back his sorry and explained about his lack of leaving the gardens for the most part, Mia shook her head but couldn't speak her idea or even a simple 'it's okay' any longer. Her hands shook lightly but she kept her panic well under control before her hood fell back. Violet eyes met red and she shook her head strongly as more black hair began falling from her fallen hood.

"...I-It's okay... Please...stop...panicking...M-Making me...panic..." Mia stuttered as the man cowered before her, her nerves shot for the moment though she held them on a tight leash. If she lost control...

At least he had stopped running... She moved closer rather haltingly, pausing and jittering as if on a boat as she made her way to Hogosha's side. "N-Not...bad... gardens...look healthy... Doing a good... job..."

You sound like a stupid caveman! Why can't you just speak like a normal person when its not someone you know well!? Berating herself in her head, she knelt down next to the third seat and stretched out a hopefully comforting hand. "I-I can call... My Father... he might know the way out..."

Obie was nearly curled into a ball on the ground when he felt Mia walk up beside him and bend down. Fearing the worst, he closed his eyes as he waited for his imminent destruction at the hands of the 10th Division Lieutenant, but instead heard a stuttered sort of compliment about his garden. How odd. Letting his grip on his hat go a little bit, Obie looked back over at Mia timidly.

“T-Thank you umm, Lieutenant. I… I try to keep everything in good shape and growing well a-and everything. It’s uh, quite peaceful to do and also, you know, good for making salves and other stuff w-we need…” He looked up to (try) to look Mia in the face as he said this, but his eyes were suddenly locked onto her outstretched hand. Oh gooooood is she about to kido my face off?! She works in the Library, she probably knows TONS of different ones oh god oh geeez oooooh also she has a lot of hair wow “I-I don’t know, maybe calling your father would help? I mean, I might be able to get us out of here… eventually? Oh no, what if he gets angry that I don’t know my way out of here? He’s my Captain’s assistant, s-so maybe he’ll tell Captain Lakshmi Ma’am that I got lost in our own division a-and then she’ll get mad too and… Oh god oh geez.”

Obie’s eyes widened more as a new panic streak began to settle in Obie’s brain. He began rapidly looking all around them for possible identifying features, but in his panicked state it all just looked the saaaame. “Oh geez oh geez maybe you should call him or MAYBE NOT but maybe it’s the best thing to do oh god will I ever be able to find my way out of here I’m so sorry Lieutenant Eufemia! Oooohhh I’m the worst person ever…” Obie punctuated his last statement by flailing his arms pathetically up and down, finally releasing his grip on his hat.

Mia's hand slowly pulled back closer to her body, she didn't want to startle Hogosha which would startle her and then would startle him and WHOOPS end up with half the garden on fire.

That would be bad... They'd both be screaming, there would be a big horrible consequence to all of this and then she'd be in huge trouble...

"Th-Thats good... Th-Then you do good work..." Mia nodded, glad to have something to attach to conversation wise. Hogosha seemed to like talking about it and didn't stutter so much... so maybe if she could get him to stop panicking by using that... "I-I am really really bad with plants... M-My powers are fire based s-so its... h-hard to... not hurt them..."

Her words might not help him and he seemed to be working himself into a larger panic so Mia in her panic did the only thing she knew how to do. As he spoke, she stored his words away to reply to in a moment as her hand went into her cloak and she pulled out... a cupcake. It was chocolate with chocolate frosting, all homemade by her! Mia gently and slowly offered it to the flailing arm man and nodded. "H-Here...calm down. You aren't the worst... P-Papa is really nice, he won't get angry...and L-Lakshmi is too. They won't get angry...they will help... m-maybe they will know where to best put signs too? S-So it'd be good to have their help anyways..."

Her other hand reached into her cloak and pulled out her communication device that oddly enough resembled a cell phone. "I-I'll send a message... H-He'll respond...when he can. W-We can just...have a picnic a-and wait... and calm...down?"

A picnic would be good...

['Dad, I need your help. I'm lost in the gardens/fields of Division Four with the Third seat. We'll be having a picnic if you want more sweets, but then could you take me out? I have to get back to work sometime soon...']

Obie flail-sulked on the ground as Mia tried to console him in her own… special way. What kind of third seat gets lost in his division’s own property? The WORST one, that’s what kind… His arms slowly began to tire, so also lowered them to his side as well. “O-Oh… That’s uh, nice of you to say Lieutenant Eufemia. I understand that gardening is kind of a um, acquired talent at times, s-so it’s totally understandable that it’s not for everyone. Especially not with fire powers.” All those flames would definitely be kinda counterintuitive for growin- Obie stopped mid-thought and stared right at Mia. F-F-FIRE POWERS?! OH GOD WHAT IF SHE GETS MAD AT ME GETTING HER MORE LOST AND THEN OOPS THERE GOES MY ENTIRE GARDEN?

Obie’s heart began to race faster until… Mia pulled out a cupcake from her robes. What. Obie’s confusion quickly took over his oncoming panic as he looked at the cupcake in her hand to back to Mia to back to the cupcake. “Cupcake I… picnic? Cupcake?” What… do I do? Picnics with cupcakes? Can I trust these cupcakes? …Would there ever be a time where I couldn’t trust a cupcake? That sounds like an awful world! Obie tentatively reached out and took the cupcake form Mia’s hands, still quite confused.

“I… I think that would be okay? I mean, um, if your father doesn’t mind it at all a-and everything.” And also not kill me and also not tell Captain Lakshmi Ma’am to kill me and also if they don’t both kill me oh god oh geez… “But I haven’t… well, had a picnic with just… sweets and stuff. N-Not that there’s anything wrong with that of course! Sweets are fine and great and delicious AND GREAT and I think I’ll just bequietnowforever…”

[Ehhh!? I'll be right there! Don't worry, I promise I'll be there soon!]

Kaimu quickly responded to Mia's message, typing it out quickly and hitting send. He wasn't really busy right now, so he could definitely go and help her! Well, even if he was busy, he would drop that to go to her, it was Mia!

Mia was lost and needed his help! The third seat was also lost, so he would help them as well!

It was off to the gardens then~!

Mia was glad when Hogosha stopped flailing, it definitely calmed her nerves some... as did his response. She let out a soft sigh and gave him a tiny smile, please he understood her gardening troubles. It was hard being just bad at it in general and then adding fire powers? Recipes for disaster.

Hogosha's staring made her feel uncomfortable though, so Mia began shifting and reached up to pull her hood back up. His hesitant response made her stop mid hood pulling up so it settled on top of her head and rested there as she tried to smile reassuringly. "I-I have other things too. N-Not just sweets. S-Some buns and sandwiches... C-Curry buns are really good! A-And a blanket we can sit on... D-Don't be quiet... please..."

As Hogosha took the cupcake, Mia's violet eyes shined with a bit of nerves and then she reached into her jacket to pull out a small hefty looking blanket. Standing up, she backed away and unfolded it before settling it on the ground.

Without seeming to care how the magic blanket came to be, she then moved to settle herself rather daintily on the blanket before pulling out a rather modern ziploc container filled with what looked like steamed and panfried buns. That was placed on the blanket along with another container filled with sweets... She hoped that her calm acceptance and actions would help calm Hogosha, it helped her when she was all riled up and terrified and nervous... So maybe she could take a page out of others books and try this!

A message stopped her, the small beeping causing her to blink. Mia gave a warm smile to the third seat. "He's on his way. H-He wouldn't mind at all I promise. If he was busy he'd just say so..."

Obie watched in amazement as Mia kept pulling out different things for the sudden picnic. How does she… Where, where is all of this coming from? Is she just really really tiny inside of a big robe or… Okay I have no idea. Mia also had kept her word, and pulled out several things that weren’t sweet at all! Obie had to do a double take when she mentioned “buns” though, but was relieved when he saw she wasn’t calling him a bunny. Because he’s not.

“O-Oh… This all looks um, nice. Did you make all of it yourself, Lieutenant?” Obie couldn’t actually cook all that well, to be honest. If need be he could make himself a salad with the veggies he grew in the garden, but that was about the extent of his cooking prowess. But all of Mia’s dishes seemed delicious and not cold! That was nice, even if they came out of some kind of spooky portal that she apparently kept in her robes. As long as it was only food and a blanket that came out of them though, Obie could deal with that. For now. Speaking of which, he also sat down on the blanket that Mia rolled out and stared at the collection of treats that was before him. “T-The um, sun bothers you too, huh?” Obie pointed to her hood and then his own sunhat. “The night is a little uh, easier on me. But it’s kinda hard to, well, garden at night.” He looked down at his hands as his thumbs began twirling in circles again. “Y-Yeah…” OF COURSE IT’S HARD TO GARDEN AT NIGHT DUM-DUM. Oh god why can’t I ever have a normal conversation? She already said she was bad a gardening, why keep bringing it up?! Aaaaaaa I’m a fool, a foolish fool who is foolishly foolish!

Obie jumped a little when Mia’s phone beeped, his hands shooting up in the air to cover his head before he noticed what exactly caused the noise. “AAAAA-Ohokay. I-I-I’m glad your um, father is okay with c-coming here…” Oh geez what a great first impression I get to make. “Hello sir, I understand that you are my Captain’s assistant. I am the new 3rd seat also I am now lost in our own division alongside your daughter. I am incompetent.” Oohhhhh why does this keep happening to meeeee…

"Mhm... I love to cook..." That was something she could talk about! Cooking was a safe subject and Hogosha seemed a bit more at ease when it came to such things... Mia gently pushed the containers towards the nice man, her eyes on the blanket as she attempted to feed him in a form of bonding. If she could feed him maybe he'd be less scared and then she would be less scared and it would be less nerves all around!

Mia's eyes glanced up at her hood as Hogosha pointed, she blinked as her head followed the look and the hood fell back. Flushing bright red, she lifted the hood back up in a panicked motion that caused her hair to bunch up and get a bit muffed up. "Y-Yeah...the sun...people... talking... I-It's... safe in the cloak from...lots... G-Gardening would be hard in one though... especially at night..."

Otherwise she'd just recommend him one!

"H-Here. I'll set it out in the open so it...doesn't...startle..." While Hogosha panicked at the sound, hopping much like a startled bunny, Mia set her phone carefully in full view of the pair so any sound and beeps it would make would be seen first. "He's fine... d-don't worry. H-He's nice... y-you've never met him?"

Black hair shifted as her head tilted just so, covering up her eyes a bit before she reached up to brush her bangs aside, a tint to her cheeks at her own rather obvious mess up. Why did she just leave it hanging it would be so much better to put it up... Don't let your eyes get covered by hair! How silly of you! Or was it silly to be worried about the protocol of letting your eyes be covered...

"O-Oh... Yeah, cooking is um, nice and everything." Obie was still marveling at just all of the food that Mia seemingly pulled out of her robes and pushed towards him. Is this part of her magic library powers? ...Wait no that doesn't make any sense. Wait, what if she ordered her robe food in alphabetical order? Oh dear this was a lot to take in at once, better focus more on the food. Of which there was a lot. "I um, can only really make s-salads and stuff. Because of the garden. Yeah..." He left out the part about those were really only for himself because, well, other people are scary.

Speaking of scary, the loud noise machine came out again! But it was only so that Mia could put it out in plain view. Obie kept his eyes focused on it while he continued to nervously talk to Mia. "That... That does make make sense. W-While a cloak would be really good for the um, sun and stuff. I just wouldn't want to get it all dirty with the gardening a-and everything... Night gardening would be really peaceful though. Maybe? I hope people wouldn't sneak up on me at night too."

"Oh, I haven't... actually... met him yet, no. I kinda k-keep to myself and m-my garden most of the time." Obie began slowly twirling his thumbs as he talked between cupcake bites. "I actually haven't really met a lot of my division y-yet... Captain Lakshmi Ma'm made me a board to write my orders down on, because I'm kinda sorta shy. A lot. And they scare me." But it didn't help for sudden appearances though! Maybe we should put signs around the perimeter to the garden too? Or maybe just... around the entire division. Would that be too much?

The division was big, and there were obstacles he'd had to get past! He silently cursed said obstacles for holding him up and making him take even longer to go and get to Mia, how dare they make him take a few seconds longer!

Wehhhh...

He vaguely remembered a couple of division members attempting to speak with him about...something, but it wasn't important! They were attempting small talk, no time for that!

No time for that at all!

When he reached the garden area, this part at least one he'd never really ventured before, he immediately zoned in on Mia's reiatsu and quickly, with a quick step of shunpo, darted over to where the pair were, his appearance...no surprise really due to his voice.

"Miaaaaaa!" With a slightly worried cry he found the two, his first action being to attempt to hug his daughter. If he had a tail, that fox tail would be swishing quite happily now that he had found them, the atmosphere full of sparkles.

"J-Just salads? But that's..." Violet eyes stared, a bit in shock since she had assumed someone like him might like to cook. Hogosha's air was all... homebody-like, wasn't it? No, there was another air about him that she didn't understand and Mia gave him a shy little grin as she pushed back her bangs. "M-Maybe...if you wanted one time or more times... I can try to teach you? I-I...used to only have my hobbies so...I've learned a lot of cooking to pass the time..."

"W-Well maybe...set like traps? L-Like bells on trees and stuff... A-And get lights to put out at night so you don't have to worry... Though I-I don't know enough about gardening to um...know if it'd help." With a cloak for her new...friend? out of the question, Mia seemed to deflate a bit. It wasn't often she met someone as shy as her and if they shared a love of cloaks...

The news of Hogosha's lack of meeting her father had Mia curious but she didn't have time to ask before the third seat explained why. At least despite his nerves and fear, he was eating her cupcake and she was glad for that at least. "I-I am sure...they... aren't too scary...th-though just...um take time and get used to things! M-Maybe one day you can...say hello... B-But uh... a board sounds...really useful... really really useful..."

The idea was a sound one, she would have to steal it... Not the board! But the idea itself...

At the sound of her father's voice though, the woman perked up and the brightest and sweetest smile of all appeared on her lips as she was promptly hugged. Her arms reached up to hold him in return, trying not to laugh happily and failing at his happy demeanor and antics. "Papa! You found us. This is my new friend, he's been helping me. Th-Third Seat Hogosha Obie."

"O-Oh... Um, maybe? I don't... really cook for a lot of people, so it's not really a um, priority f-for me." Obie ducked his head down further as he talked, not sure if admitting to his not-cookness would lead to his inevitable sudden, violent death or not. "M-Maybe... Maybe one day I could learn? But we probably um, should set up a-a time or something so it's not all sudden and everything. That um, might help me not... well freak out." That seemed like it would work! Library people are good with schedules and stuff, right? Obie sure hoped so...

"T-Traps!? Oh nonono, that would scare me even more! What if... What if someone got trapped in one on accident and then they would be super mad at me for putting them there and oooohhhhh..." Obie reached up and grabbed his sunhat tightly. "B-Bells are bad too. What if a sudden wind picked up and then they started ringing out of nowhere and ohdearohgod. C-Captain Lakshmi Ma'am a-actually removed the noisemakers that were here in the beginning because they umm, u-upset me. It was really really nice of her a-and I kinda just like my garden quiet and everything sorry."

Obie was about to comment on meeting his subordinates when the most scary thing happened! Out of nowhere a scary new person jumped into view and began mauling Lieutenant Eufemia! Obie responded in kind:

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!" He immediately curled into a ball, covering his neck with his arms as he turned into a panicked little man lying on the ground. oh god ohgod OHMYGOD he's killing her and she's screaming in agony and it sounds like laughing BUTSHE'SDYING and screaming something about her da-what Risking everything, Obie peeked out from his fortress of limbs and saw that Mia wasn't actually being mauled by the stranger, it was just a hug! But hugs out of nowhere are the most terrifying kind of all...

"Y-Y-You're the Lieutenant's f-father?" Obie asked, ever so slowly uncurling himself from his fetal position of safety as he kept his eyes on Kaimu. "I-I-I-I am like s-she said... It's a, umm p-pleasure to meet y-you, s-sir..."

"Mhm! Soooorry I took a bit longer than expected, people kept trying to stop me for small talk, but I rushed right past them!"

It was a wonder that some didn't realize he wasn't really one for small talk in the work place anyway... He just did his job here, small, casual talk between co-workers was...very, very rare for him despite his demeanor right now.

Mia knew this though! Lakshmi did too! That was what mattered!

He would talk to them and help them gladly!

When Mia mentioned the Third Seat, his mismatched eyes went to the white haired male. Come to think of it, when he'd appeared he'd heard a loud scream... That had been this man that was slowly uncurling himself from a ball.

"That's me~! Kaimu Miura, father to Mia and Assistant of Lak-ta... Of the Fourth~!" Whoops~

It was really, realllly hard not to slip with the nickname. Uuu...

Lak-tan was Lak-tan, after all.

His smile was bright, the sparkles still obvious despite his near slip of title for Lakshmi; he had found Mia after these two had been lost in this garden~!